Matot / Tribes   Numbers 30:1-32:42
Masei / Journeys   Numbers 33:1-36:13
Jeremiah 2:4-28  James 4:1-12

     Chazak! Chazak! V’nitchazek! Be Strong! Be Strong! And May We Be Strengthened! 

     We end the book of Numbers/B’midbar with a double Torah portion. Matot/Tribes and Masei/Journeys. Matot begins with the consequences of vows and oaths to God. 
      The Hebrew word for vow is neder, and is used in the Bible for a promise made to God to perform some deed or as a prohibition which a person imposes upon himself to abstain from something which is otherwise permitted. Biblical laws of making are found in Numbers 30:1-16. The voiding of a vow (hafarat nedarim) is the case of an unmarried woman by her father, and a married woman by her husband, providing he did so "in the day that he hears." 
     Although there is no English equivalent for neder, it is translated as vow. Oath in Hebrew is shevuah. Even though each word is similar in context, they relate different in regards to Elohim. In the prior Torah portion, Balak, he tried to impose curses on the Israelites out of the mouth of Balaam. But God kept the words as blessings.  The Etz Chaim expounds on words that we speak: ‘A word is not merely a sound; it is real, it has substance, with the power to hurt or to heal, to elevate or to degrade. The power of speech is a unique gift of the human being, a power we share with no other creatures. By uttering words, we can impose an obligation of himself or herself as binding as God’s commands in the Torah.’
     Proverbs 18:21 warns: ‘Life and death are in the power of the tongue.’
      A vow or an oath is not limited to a personal situation as in ‘I will…’ or ‘I am…’ Words spoken are the very vows that we form our spiritual walk with.  To edify and encourage someone are words that are rightly spoken. ‘You’re doing a good job…’  ‘You’re going to be okay…’ ‘How can I help…’ These types of words can fit into the category of blessings.  You are blessing someone with words of kindness and encouragement.
     Proverbs 25:11 ‘A word fitly spoken is like apples of old in settings of silver.’
     Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to ‘encourage one another daily…’
     Colossians 4:6 ‘Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.’
     Others are words of curses, words that hurt and wound that come in fits of anger, pride, and ego. The tongue lashes out, and before we know it, we have cursed another. In Psalm 64, speaks of workers of iniquities: ‘Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shot their arrows – bitter word.’ Psalm 64:3.   Matthew 12:34-36 tells us that we will give an account for every idle word.  Proverbs 10:31 tells us that our tongue will be cut out.
     How can we take unfit words back?  They are tossed in the wind as if we are free to curse those we desire when our anger wells up.  Are we free to randomly and without thought make vows and promises to one another, dismissing the vow when it never comes to pass, or if we ignore it?
    James 3 speaks of the tongue being a fire, a world of iniquity that defiles the whole body. It is an unruly, evil and full of deadly poison entity, ‘with it we bless our God and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.’
   Proverbs 4:23 warns; ‘Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life.’
     Vows and oaths have far-reaching consequences in the practical sphere. In the vow the person prohibits the thing to himself by declaring, "I take upon myself"; in the oath he prohibits himself to the thing by saying, "I swear to do this, or not to do this.  Vows and oaths are obligations created by words. They are commitments to do something or refrain from doing something.  
     The vow affects the status of an object- I may vow not to eat something. That something is the forbidden food.  The oath affects the person not the object. What is now forbidden is not the food but the act of eating it. Hence: vows and oaths. 
    The four words; vow, oath, pledge and promise, all pertain to an individual stating or declaring some sort of act: ‘I will’, or ‘I am’ or ‘I wish’ even ‘I won’t’.
    The Ketubah is likened to our vow to Torah, and Torah to us. The wedding ketubah states the principal obligations of the groom towards his wife. The ketubah document is reminiscent of the wedding between God and Israel when Moses took the Torah, the Book of the Covenant, and read it to the Israelites prior to the "chupah ceremony" at Mount Sinai. In the Torah, Yeshua, the groom, provides for all the physical and spiritual needs of His beloved bride. It is this precious "marriage contract" to Israel that has assured our survival through millennia despite the disappearance of so many mighty nations and superpowers, yet not Israel. Once we choose life, the Torah, we enter into the covenant. We live by the Ketuba - we are betrothed. This gives our husband the right to release us from all vows. Once we enter into covenant, God forbids us to utter vows to idols or other gods. 
     After we make our vows to God and live by the Ketubah, we are instructed to keep cleaning and purifying ourselves. The last chapter in Numbers 33 states: ‘‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56 And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.’ Numbers 33:55-56. 
     We are to drive out the idols of our hearts, the old lovers that had once consumed us. Our marriage vow, to one spouse is the covenant. By straying to another lover, we commit adultery. Our vow to Yeshua (Torah) ‘You are my King’ enters us into covenant with God. When we participate in anything that is the antithesis of His Ways, we commit spiritual adultery. James 4:7 specifically speaks of friendship with the world to the schemes of HaSatan. 
     ‘Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war.Ye t you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.’ James 4:1-8.
       

Matot / Tribes   Numbers 30:1-32:42
Masei / Journeys   Numbers 33:1-36:13
Jeremiah 1:1-2:3    Jeremiah 2:4-28 
John 2:13-22   James 4:1-12 

     This double Torah portion brings B’midbar/Numbers to a close. This parsha with several chapters, Numbers 30 through Numbers 36, and each chapter, though different are connected. Within them are codes for life.  
     Numbers 30 contains the instructions concerning vows.  Every word is a word spoken, whether rightly and justly or with evil inclinations.  The Hebrew word for vow is neder, although there is no English equivalent, it is translated as vow. Oath in Hebrew is shevuah. Even though each word is similar in context, they relate different in regards to Elohim. In the prior Torah portion, Balak, we see where he tried to impose curses on the Israelites out of the mouth of Balaam. But God kept the words as blessings.  
     Expounding on the words that we utter, the Etz Chaim teaches: ‘A word is not merely a sound; it is real, it has substance, with the power to hurt or to heal, to elevate or to degrade. The power of speech is unique gift of the human being, a power we share with no other creatures. By uttering words, an Israelite can impose an obligation of himself or herself as binding as God’s commands in the Torah.’      
     Our Vows:
We are as a Psalm and a Proverb state. Psalm 64:3 states: ‘Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shot their arrows – bitter word.’ Proverbs 25:11 ‘A word fitly spoken is like apples of old in settings of silver.’ 
      In Numbers 31 there is  vengeance on the Midianites and the dividing of the spoil.
Numbers 31:7- :‘They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses and killed every man. Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba – the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.’ 
     This chapter continues with the Israelites capturing  Midianite women, children, herds, flocks and all the goods.  In Numbers 31:13 states that Moses was angry, and continues with ‘Have you allowed all the women to live? They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the Lord in what happened at Peor…kill every woman who has known a man…’ Numbers 31:15-18. 
      We are to put to death evil influences:
Colossians 3:5 ‘Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Galatians 5:19-21 ‘Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity…’ sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.’
     Numbers 32 explains   the Transjordan Tribes.  The tribes of Reuben and Gad did not want to cross the Jordan, and requested the land they were on. Moses rebukes them, where they agree to go into battle and not receive any inheritance ‘with them on the other side of the Jordan because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.’ Numbers 32:19. 
     We are to be armed for battle:
Psalm 140:70 ‘‘O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.’
2 Samuel 22:40 “For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.’ 
     This parsha continues with Numbers 33-36. Numbers 33 contains the stages in Israel’s journey. Numbers 33:55-56 ends with: ‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. 56 Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.’ 
     We are to drive out impure thoughts and the idols of our heart.
Matthew 6:13 ‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.’
Joshua 13:6 ‘All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon as far as Misrephoth-maim, all the Sidonians, I will drive them out from before the sons of Israel; only allot it to Israel for an inheritance as I have commanded you.’
     Matot/Masei ends with the boundaries of Caanan, towns for the Levites, cities of refuge and the inheritance of Zlelophehad’s daughters. 
     To move from one season to another, to grow in God’s word, we have to maintain boundaries, otherwise we will be consumed by influences that do not promote Torah but rather promote themselves.  
     Obedience is the key to joy in the LORD- ‘So Zlophehad’s daughters did as the LORD commanded Moses…’ Numbers 36:10.  B’midbar which so often presents the rebellion of God’s people against His everlasting chesed and in defiance of His Will ends with a positive note. These noble women, who were concerned for their father’s name and their own place in the land, obeyed the LORD and all that He said. 

Chazak! Chazak! V'nitchazek!
Be Strong! Be Strong! And May We Be Strengthened!